Dallas Cup XXXIII: U-17 quarterfinals recap

FRISCO, Texas -- The FC Dallas U-16 Academy team suffered a heart-breaking 5-4 penalty kick loss to Rot Weiss Essen of Germany in the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup U-17 quarterfinals after tying the squad 2-2 through 90 minutes and two 10-minute overtime periods. The U-16s had won all three of their group stage matches heading into Friday's quarterfinal match.

FC Dallas dominated the game in the first half, opening the scoring in the 12th minute shortly after defender Juan Herrera took control of the ball on the left flank in FCD's attacking third. Herrera played a ball towards the box that was headed along into the path of forward Victor Portillo. Portillo ran onto the ball and wasted no time slotting the shot past the German goalkeeper to give the home team the 1-0 lead.

The U-16s continued to dominate in the first half, with captain Diego De La Tejera ringing one off the far post in the 32nd minute before receiving the ball again and getting taken down in the box to earn a penalty kick for FC Dallas. Midfielder Abdul Yassine stepped up to the spot and converted the PK to gain the 2-0 advantage.

Rot Weiss Essen nearly cut the lead in half in the 38th minute, but goalkeeper Jose Gonzalez made a huge point-blank save to maintain his first half shutout.

The German squad stepped their game up in the second half, with Oguz Ayan hitting the post in the 63rd minute and Gonzalez having to make another point-blank save in the 70th minute.

The match remained tied through the 90th minute, and after two scoreless 10-minute overtime periods, the match would be determined by penalty kicks.

The visiting side gained a 2-1 advantage in the shootout after FCD's second shooter sent his attempt wide left. Gonzalez then made three straight saves to keep Dallas alive, but RWE's 'keeper also made two saves to keep the teams tied at two through the fifth round of the shootout. After entering sudden death, the shootout went to the eighth round where Rot Weiss Essen's goalkeeper made a crititcal save to earn the win and advance his team to the tournament semifinals.

The U-16s will return to action next Sunday, April 15 when they host Texans SC Houston in Development Academy action on the Complex at FC Dallas Stadium.